PROTESTERS at Saturday's main rally against the Asia-Pacific
Economic Co-operation forum may risk arrest through "non-violent
civil disobedience" after a court win by police stripped organisers
of their preferred route through the security zone.

The commander of the NSW Police Public Order and Riot Squad,
Chief Superintendent Stephen Cullen, told the Supreme Court
yesterday that Sydney would face unprecedented violence during APEC
and "full-scale riots" if the protest were allowed down George
Street.

Justice Michael Adams granted the application by the Police
Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, for an order preventing the Stop
Bush Coalition marching from Town Hall down George Street and
Martin Place to Hyde Park. The protesters now risk arrest if they
ignore the order and march to the intersection of George and King
streets, where police will erect a security barrier.

Mr Cullen warned of "horrendous consequences" if protesters were
pushed into the newly announced blockade. "Police lines will come
under attack and a full-scale riot is probable [if the route were
approved]," he told the court.

"Well-drilled and disciplined" members of violent splinter
groups would agitate during the protests, stirring up usually
peaceful marchers.

"Based upon my research, experience, current intelligence and
evidence from internationally similar events - more recently G20 in
Melbourne - I have absolutely no doubt that minority groups will
engage in a level of violence not previously experienced in
Sydney.

"Never in my career have I held such serious concerns for public
safety as I do during the conduct of APEC, or more specifically
this particular march".

Mr Cullen denied he had been alarmist or had made considerable
exaggerations about the risks of violence when questioned by the
Stop Bush Coalition's barrister, Michael Bozic.

Outside the court, the coalition's spokesman, Alex Bainbridge,
said police had ambushed the protesters with the announcement of
the barrier.

"We were always under the understanding that these areas were
open to the public," he said.

Coalition members were to meet last night to consider options,
he said, but may still go ahead with plans that would lead to
confrontation with police.

"The court has made very clear that we have got a right to
protest," he said. "The court order today prohibits nothing: our
rally and demonstration will be going ahead.

"As we have always said we intend for this to be a peaceful
protest. We have never ruled out non-violent civil
disobedience."

Meanwhile, the NSW Greens say police have offered to turn a
blind eye to a planned media conference in Martin Place tomorrow as
long as the party withdraws its application for official permission
for a rally.

But the Greens MP Sylvia Hale said she would still seek official
permission to gain protection as an authorised public assembly.

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